Foldable rack



July 20, 1937. c. W. sADENwAT-ER 2,087,359

FOLDABLE RACK Filed July 17, les@ CHAR/:5 w tSfnDfA/WA TER Patented July20, 1937 earsar ori-ig FOLDABLE RACK Charles W. Sadenwater, Saginaw,

Mich., assigner to Saginaw Manufacturing Co., Saginaw, Mich., acorporation of Michigan Application July 17, 1936, Serial No. 9l,ll9

2 Claims. This invention relates to foldable table-like structures, andwith regard to certain more specie features, to an adjustable device ofthis type.

Among the several objects of the invention may be noted the provision ofa grille-like top member having spaced parallel rods upon which articlesmay be hung, that is capable of adjustment to different heights whilemaintaining its substantially horizontal position, and is also capableof being adjustably` projected more or less beyond the supporting legs,such adjustments being attained by appropriate angular positioning ofthe legs relative to each other; the provision of a device for securingthe structure in such adjusted positions; also, the provision of adevice of the class described which shall be simple in arrangement andcompact when folded. Other objects will be in part obvious, and in partpointed out hereinafter.

The invention accordingly comprises the elements and combinations ofelements, features of construction, and arrangements of parts which willbe exemplied in the structure hereinafter described, the scope of theapplication of which Will be indicated in the following claims.

In the accompanying drawing, in which is illustrated a preferredembodiment of the invention,

Fig. 1 is a top plan View of the apparatus in its erected position.

Fig. 2 is a side View.

Fig. 3 is an end view, Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary detail of one of the pin joints.

Fig. 5 is a side view of the apparatus, folded.

Fig. 6 is a side View, showing the grille in overhung position orcantilever position, various other adjusted positions being indicated bydotted lines.`

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary detail showing the means for holding theapparatus in such adjusted positions.

Similar reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout theseveral views of the drawing.

Referring more particularly to Fig. 1, there is illustrated a flatgrille comprising a number of parallel rods l, spaced apart. The rodsare of equal length and are secured together at their ends by headers 2,3, to which they are nailed or otherwise fastened.

Four legs provide two X-standards 4, 5 by which the grille is supported.A spacer bar i connects the two X-standards at their crossing as seenfrom the left in (Cl. 2li- 178) point and serves as their common axiswhen the structure is being folded or extended.

Header 2 ofthe grille connects the upper ends of two legs l and la,being pivoted for rotation about its own axis, and thus hinging an endof the grille l to the said legs.

A cross member :i is mounted between the inner pair of legs 8, 8a, and,like the header 2, is rotatable about its own axis. Member S is formedwith holes 9a in which the rods i of the rack are received and throughwhich they slide lengthwise when the appartus is being folded orextended. y

The header 2, the spacer bar 6, and the cross member 9 are pivoted tolegs l, la and 8, and 8a, respectively, by means of end pins It thatpass through holes in the legs and into the ends of the bars as shown inFig. fl. Washers iila are provided on the pins. Referring to Fig. 6, itis to be noted that the inner legs 8, 8a of each X-standard are shorter`than the outer legs l, la with respect to the disf tance from the axisof spacer bar E to the top ends of the legs and also from the axis totheir bottom ends.

Such arrangement and proportioning of the parts is novel andadvantageous in that it enables the grille l to be kept horizontal orsubstantially so, not only when the structure is fully extended for useas shown in Fig. 2, but also at intermediate stages of folding.

An example of the application of the device is shown in Fig. 6, wherethe grille is indicated by dotted lines as being adjusted to variousheights from the floor and by such adjustment is made to overhang at I!in cantilever fashion.

In Fig. 5 the apparatus is shown folded so as to present a packagesubstantially no thicker than the individual legs, say, aboutthree-fourths of an inch.

Considering first its fully open or erected aspect, Fig. 2, the grillerods I may be hung with articles, such as hosiery, to be dried; or fiatgoods, such as table linen may be spread out on the grille bars. Header3, by taking against bar 9 keeps the legs from spreading beyond thenormal full open position.

It will be noted that in use the operation of the structure is extremelysimple.

To raise the grille to a higher position while maintaining it in asubstantially horizontal plane, the operator grasps the header 2 and thecross bar 9, bringing them toward each other. Bar 9 slides along therods l and the X-standards partially close. Thus the grille may bebrought to sfr any height `within its adjustment range, as for exampleto the position indicated by dotted lines,

Y Fig. 6. The amount of overhang of grille l With ing .movement causesVportion/3 ofthe grille toswing downwardly until f it lies flatagainstthe axis bar 1'0 5, Thebar 6 is located slightly off from the pivrespectto the legs increases as bar 9 approaches header 2 until the shorterlegs 8, 8a are substan- Beyond `that point further clos-V tiallyvertical.

the free or left-hand end (i,Y as shown in Fig.

otal center ofthe legs asindicated by the bro-V ken line in Fig. 2 topermit the grillerods I to lie! within the planes of the legs 1, 8 inthe manner`v described. Y Y Y When the grille is in its cantilever oroverhung position, Fig. 6, articles can be hung from the rods to dry, orthey can be spread out Yon the Y Vk grille surface. The apparatus canthen be placed over a heater, H, wall W to prevent overturning, Fig. 6.4Y

ed positions a keeper is provided, preferably in the form of a ring l2,Fig. 7, slidable on one of 25, arranged to clarnpingly engage therrundersiderof the rods I and having a projecting Vvringer I2a cross bars atany desired place along the length VofV the rods.

lFrom the above itvwilibe seen that the invention provides a devicewhich has a considerable range of Vpositioning as regards height andextent of overhang. These desirable results are attained with a simpleformof device which is readily adjustable and is capable of beingproduced in quantities at relatively small cost.

VHaving thus described my invention, what IY claim and desire to 'secureby Letters'Patent is:

'1. iIn aV foldable apparatus of the class de-V scribed, in combination,a grille comprising a. plurality of parallel rods spaced apart andhavingV headersV secured to their ends, legs pivoted l,

its header V3 resting against a Y as is'lndicated in 'Y To hold theapparatus in any of its partly fold-Y VVtive grille rods being slidnglyVreceived andV slidable endwise therein, thefk together to provideX-standards, one of said headers being pivoted to the upper ends of twoparallel legs for rotational movement about its axis, a cross memberWhich the respective grille rods arereceived for similarly rotatablyconnect` Ved to the other legs and formed With holes in endwise slidingmovement, the inner legs of each X-standardV being shorter than the.outer legs with respect to the distancefrorn the pivotal axis to theirtop ends and lfrom saidaxis totheir bottom ends,Y said lengths being soproportioned as to maintain the grille substantially horizontal atvarious Vadjusted heights and waa `various s 2.. In a faisable apparatusof the class` de" 2o` scribed, in combination, a` grille comprising aplurality of parallel rods spaced apart with head.-

Y ers'secured to their` ends, legspivoted together. to Y provideXstandardsyone of said headers being pivoted at its `ends to the upperends of two parallel-legs so as to be capable of rotationalmoverotatably connected at its ends Vto the Vother legs releasablyL mentabout'ivtsV axis, and across member similarly and formed with holesspaced apart, the respec-s in lsaid spaced holes inner legs of eachstandard being Vshorter than the outer legs with respect tothe distancefrom the pivotal axis to their top ends and from said axis to theirybottom ends, said lengths being so proportioned as to maintain thegrille substan-k tially horizontal at various adjusted heights and withvarious amourlts'ofA overhang from thelegs corresponding to variousangular adjustments n of the legs. n

' CHARLES W. SADENWATER.

